‘Are you well?’ Varus batted away a beggar with his arm as we walked down the road from Proculus’s parents’ house.
‘Yes, thank you,’ I lied. I was furious with Lucius and now embarrassed by Varus’s offer to escort us home. I glanced at him then looked away. Tall and with a good figure, but I’d always thought of him as from my parents’ generation. He must be fifty at the least. Now Lucius had planted the idea of him as a new husband in my head. There was no doubt of his kindness and for somebody in the circles of power here in Rome, he was said to be honest. But as a husband? No. I blinked hard and resolved to forget Lucius’s stupid remark.
It was only the tenth hour and the sky was still full of glorious June sunshine, warm with a heat haze over the red-tiled roofs below. We crossed in front of Diocletian’s Baths in silence. As we descended from the Quirinal Hill, the warmth and smell of everyday life increased along with shouting, animal noises and clattering of boots and handcart wheels on the street. The Mitelus domus sat on the summit of the Mons Cispius, part of the Esquiline, so it wasn’t too far away. But the climb up the Cispius was steep. The bearers of Honorina’s litter puffed as they navigated the short flight of steps between two curves in the path. A grunt of displeasure came from between the curtains and one was wrenched back.
‘I swear they become clumsier and weaker every day,’ Honorina said.
‘Peace, Aunt.’ I smiled. ‘You know very well we’d need to go round the long way across half the Esquiline otherwise.’
‘I suppose I do, but jaunts like this remind me I’m too old to be thrown around in a litter like a sack of cats for drowning.’
I did laugh at that as she loved the cats we kept in the house to keep the rats and mice away. I’d often found her with at least one on her lap as she read. ‘Only for the warmth,’ she’d say in a neutral voice then set about caressing the cat, making it purr loudly. We arrived shortly afterwards at the large door of Domus Mitela set in between the shop selling fine pottery and the other one smelling heavenly with piles of spices in large bowls on its front counter.
Varus thumped on the door.
‘I will leave you here, Maelia Mitela.’ He bowed to my aunt as the door opened and she stepped down from her litter.
‘Thank you, Marcellus Varus,’ I replied. I kept my tone formal as I still felt awkward. ‘We’re grateful for your escort. My aunt is tired and I must see her to her bed.’
He bowed to me this time but said nothing and left.
‘Well, at least somebody has manners.’ My aunt leant heavily on my arm as I guided her along the vestibule to the atrium. ‘He’s a widower since his wife expired from the coughing sickness. You could—’
‘Don’t, Aunt! I had that heavy hint from Lucius. I do not wish to marry again. I have three children, including a son. The law will therefore not compel me.’
‘Well, I only want to help, child. Don’t jump down my throat.’ She studied my face. ‘Aren’t you ever lonely, though?’
I said nothing. How could I explain? I did like Varus, but as a reliable acquaintance, as he had been this afternoon. Luckily, my aunt’s body slave appeared and making cooing noises, took Honorina off in the direction of her sleeping chamber. I sighed with relief. After a day like this, I needed some peace, so I went to sit in the peristyle and enjoy the evening sun. Even if I did wish to marry Varus, I wouldn’t, as it would mean living under the same roof as his nightmarish sister. That was an end to it.
Thank you so much for hosting EXSILIUM on your blog today! I hope your readers enjoy reading a little of the dynamic between Maelia and Varus. I won't say more about it, as it might be a spoiler. ;-)
ReplyDeleteIt was a pleasure, Alison
DeleteThank you for hosting Alison Morton with Exsilium today!
ReplyDeleteTake care,
Cathie xx
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